Why Lisa Marie Presley Kept Her Son Home 2 Months After His Death

Content Warning: This article contains references to suicide and death. Reader discretion is advised.

After experiencing a deep loss, the lines between love, grief, and mourning can sometimes blur.
This was true for Lisa Marie Presley, who, in her heartbreak over the death of her son, Benjamin Keough, chose an unconventional way to cope with her grief.

The family's personal story, shared in a newly published book, gives insight into a mother's powerful connection to her child, even after his passing.




Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the legendary rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley, faced an unimaginable tragedy when her 27-year-old son died by suicide in 2020.

The pain of losing a child is a sorrow that defies words, and for Presley, it led to a decision that might startle many: keeping her son's body on ice at home for two months.



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Lisa Marie Presley kept her deceased son Benjamin Keough's body at home on ice for two months after his suicide in 2020. Image source: Getty Images.



According to the family's account, California law does not dictate a strict timeline for the burial or disposition of a body, which allowed Presley the opportunity to say goodbye to her son on her own terms.

She drew parallels to the time she spent with her father, Elvis, after his passing, finding solace in the ability to be near him and communicate her love and farewell.




The room where Benjamin's body was kept was maintained at a chilly 55 degrees, and Presley tended to her son with a level of care that might seem extraordinary. This act of preservation allowed her and her daughter, Riley Keough, to maintain a physical connection with Benjamin, a connection that was further solidified when they received tattoos matching his own.

The tattoo session, conducted in the presence of Benjamin's body, marked a surreal moment even by the Presley family's standards. It was a poignant, if unconventional, act of remembrance and a testament to the enduring bonds of family. Yet, it also signaled a turning point in their grieving process, as both mother and daughter sensed that it was time to let Benjamin rest elsewhere.




The decision to finally lay Benjamin to rest was guided by an intuitive sense that he no longer wished to remain in the house. Riley Keough imagined her brother's voice, urging them to move forward and find peace in letting go.

In the end, both Benjamin Keough and his mother, Lisa Marie Presley, found their final resting place at Graceland, the iconic home of Elvis Presley. It is a place steeped in history, music, and now, a testament to the enduring love of a family.


Key Takeaways
  • Lisa Marie Presley kept her deceased son Benjamin Keough's body at home on ice for two months after his suicide in 2020.
  • The family cited California's absence of laws mandating prompt burial or disposal as the reason for keeping the body at home.
  • Benjamin's mother and sister had tattoos done in his memory, an experience detailed as strange yet significant in a recently published book.
  • The decision to finally move his body to a final resting place was influenced by a sense that Benjamin did not want to remain in the house any longer. Both he and his mother are now buried at Graceland.


Have you encountered unconventional methods of mourning that helped you or someone you know through a difficult time? How do you honor and remember your loved ones who have passed? Let us know your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
 

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